Elves adorn Flint House's interior in a nod to former owner

Victorian strolls, Colonial walks and tours of historical houses are all ways to enjoy the holidays as they were once celebrated.

Although Christmas carolers going door-to-door may be a thing of the past, visiting historic places like the Flint House in Scotia offer the perfect way to step back into simpler times.

Cyndi Pytlovany, a member of the informal committee Friends of The Flint House, said the Flint House will hold its annual Holiday Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 2, from 1 to 7 p.m.

The event will feature tours discussing how Christmas was celebrated from Victorian times through the 1930s.

This year, the Flint House has been decorated with a playful Christmas elves theme, chosen because of Lillian Flint's love of handmade elves from Denmark.

Flint purchased the house in 1952, at which time she reinvigorated the home through her love of dance, poetry, photography, and through her work as director of an all girls camp in Vermont. She also operated a gift shop in her home that specialized in Scandinavian Christmas Ornaments.

Pytlovany said upon Flint's death in 1994, she gave the home and property to the village of Scotia to be used for museum and park purposes. This year's decorations were specifically chosen to honor Flint's spirit.

She frequently told stories about the small elves which inhabited the house and nearby riverbank, said Pytlovany.

The Friends of the Flint House have decorated the foyer with the photographs taken by Flint. Donated pieces that include a flax wheel, a spinning wheel, Dutch shoes and drop beds are just a few of the items that adorn the house.

During another part of the tour, a hostess will provide food samples while describing cooking tools, ingredients, appliances and techniques typical of the mid-'30s kitchen during the holiday season.